April 19, 2004 -- In an Intel survey that ranks the top 100 schools for wireless computing access, Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY) places #13--ahead of Tulane University (#17), Cornell University (#65), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (#52), all other CUNY campuses, and all SUNY campuses.

The survey reveals a growing number of schools across the country where students have the freedom to wirelessly access the Internet on notebook PCs--without a traditional wired connection--and stay connected and informed whether they're in the dorm room, library or outdoors at the campus quad.

The survey was sponsored by Intel Corporation and conducted by Bert Sperling, a researcher who specializes in collecting and analyzing data for nationally known surveys.

The "Most Unwired College Campuses" survey findings are based on the number of hotspots, the number of undergraduates, number of computers and the computer-to-student ratio. The results were also based on the percentage of each college campus that is covered by wireless technology. The data was collected from university interviews and documents, and a variety of industry sources.

Queens College President James Muyskens has placed a great emphasis on upgrading campus technology since assuming the presidency in July 2002. As the former Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the University System of Georgia, he directed the University’s extensive investigation into instructional technology and distance learning and developed a technology plan for higher education in that state. In 1999, he was given the opportunity to put the plan into practice-- to create a new campus, the Gwinnett University Center, sometimes referred to as the “bricks and clicks” campus.

At Queens College, one of Muyskens’ first technological improvements was the creation of “Books & Bytes,” an indoor wireless café connected to the library. Students may check out laptop computers from the library for use in this soaring, light-filled space.